Olu Allen
In Nigeria’s political history, the South West once held a unique moral compass, a region where politics was a dignified contest of ideas, vision, and service.
From Obafemi Awolowo to Abraham Adesanya and Adekunle Ajasin, the Yoruba political tradition wasn’t just tribal solidarity, it was a philosophy.
A worldview grounded in people-centered governance, democratic ideals, and ethical public service.
Today, that legacy is gutted.
What we see in Lagos, the most visible symbol of South West politics, is a far cry from the principled activism that defined the region. A political fiefdom has emerged: party structures rigidly controlled, dissent punished, democratic values weaponized in rhetoric but executed like a private enterprise.
How did we get here?
The Unraveling of Awoism
Awoism was never nostalgia. It was an ideology: free education, welfarism, regional economic empowerment, intellectualized politics. It demanded moral leadership. Even in opposition, Awoists were statesmen, governing with vision.
But post-1999, the torch dimmed. Those who rode “progressive” banners into power abandoned the ideals that brought them there.
Tinubu built his career on NADECO and the blood of pro-democracy martyrs. Today, under his watch, first as Lagos godfather, now as President, we see rising intolerance, elite consolidation, and ethno-political incitement.
The Pivot: Pan-Yoruba to Poisonous Nativism
Renaming a Lagos bus stop to a Yoruba name, reportedly to counter Igbo economic influence, isn’t governance. It’s political appeasement in cultural drag. It signals that inclusivity is negotiable; belonging, conditional.
This is not Awoism.
Awo’s legacy rejected ethnic chauvinism. He believed in federalism and Yoruba progress—never at the expense of national cohesion.
He invested in education across class and creed. His politics included; it never excluded. He’d have scorned policies that deepen ethnic fault lines for gain.
Lagos: Democracy’s Ghost Town
Lagos, polished by infrastructure, is now a cautionary tale. Elections reek of voter suppression, violence, and intimidation, especially against non-indigenes.
Power clings to a machine whose godfather now rules Nigeria. Intra-party democracy? Stifled. Civic spaces for debate? Echo chambers of fear.
Yes, roads are built. Rails are laid. But without democratic integrity, it’s ornamentation on a rotting foundation.
Why the South West Still Matters
Despite the decay, this region remains Nigeria’s best hope for democratic rebirth—if it reclaims its soul. It still has:
A literate, politically aware populace;
A culture that once revered integrity and service;
The living memory of principled governance.
The Bottom Line: Reset or Rust
The South West needs a political and moral reset.
If Tinubu is a democrat, he must choose democratic deepening over empire-building.
If the political class claims Awo’s legacy, they must live it, not loot it.
If the people remember their history, they must demand ideological fidelity, not just asphalt and optics.
Awoism wasn’t a slogan. It was a mission.
Until we return to it, the South West will keep producing power without purpose; politicians, not patriots.
Olu Allen is a writer and educator based in Kano. He writes on public affairs and advocates for principled governance.
